Chapter 64
“That sounds good.” Cheng Yanling smiled and nodded. “Miss Shen is willing to donate some items, and we are extremely grateful. How about we mail you the donation certificate in a few days?
We also have commemorative replicas of ancient silk textiles from our collection, just a small token of appreciation.”
Shen You was about to respond when the curator beside them became upset.
“How did this become a donation to your museum? Isn’t it supposed to be our Jiangcheng Collection Museum? Miss Shen is from our Jiangcheng after all!”
They had used their facility and staff for the testing two days ago, and now that the results were out, someone came to take the items away.
If he had known that this would happen, he would have said that they were too busy to accommodate them.
Cheng Yanling became somewhat anxious. “We are more professionally suited for this. Jiangcheng Collection Museum’s focus isn’t on ancient textile manufacturing.”
“But the items need to be used for research first, then for exhibitions later.”
The curator reacted quickly. “You can collaborate with Master Jiang during the research phase, but once it’s finished, you should send the items to us.”
Cheng Yanling disagreed. “All of us are focused on protecting traditional culture. The Silk Museum has collected all types of ancient textiles discovered to date. Your preservation conditions here aren’t as good.”
The two exchanged words back and forth, both speaking with considerable skill.
However neither of them could convince the other, so they finally turned their gazes toward Shen You.
The items belonged to her, so whichever museum she said to donate to would be the one.
Shen You had been watching the drama unfold from the sidelines when everyone’s eyes suddenly turned to her. The eager gazes from both museums’ bigwigs were too intense.
She couldn’t answer directly, as choosing either side would offend the other.
“You are all experts and can definitely work out the best arrangement. I don’t understand much about traditional textile manufacturing.”
She put on an expression that said they could discuss the ownership among themselves, and she would have no objections.
Donating to either museum was still donating. Their internal matters should be resolved among themselves.
Xu Jiayan and Fu Xicheng quietly gave her a look that said “clever”.
The curator, Cheng Yanling, and the other experts moved their discussion from the workroom to the conference room.
People passing by in the corridor could hear the back-and-forth negotiations between both sides.
Cheng Yanling had rushed over from the capital with only two people, so during the negotiations, she made several phone calls back to her office.
Nobody knew exactly how they discussed it, but after two hours, having drunk two cups of tea and talked until their mouths were dry, they reached an agreement:
Both sides would compromise. After the research was completed, the original would go to the Silk Museum, but they would make a replica for Jiangcheng Collection Museum.
Cheng Yanling had other matters to attend to and would return to the capital tomorrow.
After Shen You finished handling her affairs, she would bring the items and go to the capital together with Master Jiang and the others.
She needed to handle the handover personally, as she wouldn’t feel comfortable letting others do it.
After receiving this news, Shen You, Xu Jiayan, and Fu Xicheng went to have hotpot nearby. The museum experts had their own dinner arrangements.
“The weaving method is easy to solve by looking at the thread direction and arrangement.” Fu Xicheng said as he added fatty lamb to the pot. “The raw materials will be difficult though. Even our teacher doesn’t dare guarantee that your fire-washed cloth can be reproduced. It’s enough to keep us researching for several years.”
The special processing method was a major problem.
Additionally, the same plant fibers might no longer be available. Using similar substitutes would definitely produce different effects.
In other words, the fire-washed cloth in Shen You’s hands might truly be the only surviving piece in the world.
“When are you planning to go to the capital?” Xu Jiayan looked toward Shen You.
“Tomorrow afternoon.” Shen You replied. “I’ll go with my parents and then find them a local pure leisure tour group.”
“Uncle and Auntie are coming too?” Xu Jiayan immediately perked up.
“They’re arriving in Jiangcheng tonight. I’ll pick them up later.” Shen You said as she added some tripe to the pot.
“Have you arranged their accommodation? I can help you arrange something if needed.”
As soon as Xu Jiayan finished speaking, Shen You quickly shook her head. “There’s no need, I’ve already booked a hotel.”
Fu Xicheng chimed in, “Miss Shen, I know friends who run travel agencies. If you need it, I can recommend them, or our studio can find someone familiar with the capital to guide Uncle and Auntie.”
She had given them priceless treasures for their studio to research without charging any money, so arranging this was simple.
Just in case Miss Shen had other good items, maintaining a good relationship with her would ensure that when she decided to share them in the future, she would definitely think of their side first.
“Just recommend the travel agency to me. There’s no need to go through the trouble of finding someone special. They’ll be more comfortable in a group with people their own age.”
Shen You preferred to solve things she could pay for herself rather than use favors.
Fu Xicheng nodded. “Alright, then when Uncle and Auntie return, I’ll take them to the airport.”
Before recommending his friend, Fu Xicheng also specifically called a tour guide he knew to give them a heads-up.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Jiayan said, “I’ll also make this trip.”
The item was too precious for the museum to feel comfortable otherwise.
Originally, this task would have been assigned to another museum staff member, but he had volunteered to take it on.
“That’s wonderful. Once we get to the capital, I’ll treat you both to dinner.” Fu Xicheng said with particular joy.
After dinner, Shen You declined Xu Jiayan’s offer to pick up her parents for her and drove there herself.
Fu Xicheng came up from behind and sighed, “You like her, don’t you? Why don’t you just tell her directly? I think Shen You doesn’t even realize it.”
This kind of unwillingness to trouble others was the kind of distance one only maintained with ordinary friends. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have refused.
Xu Jiayan remained silent for a moment, then sighed. It was precisely because he sensed that Shen You had no such feelings that he felt it would be too abrupt to speak directly.
Moreover, she seemed to never completely trust the people around her.
Shen You picked up her parents from the station and arranged for them to stay at a hotel not far from her shop, using her membership to extend checkout until 4 PM the next day.
It wasn’t that she was unwilling to let her parents stay in the five or six thousand yuan hotels she stayed in herself, but her parents didn’t know about her financial situation yet.
Father and Mother Shen had already witnessed the major family conflict, but looking at Shen You, they said nothing in the end.
After all, every word Shen You had said was the truth.
Shen You had done it deliberately. Only by tearing off the facade and making a scene a few times would that side settle down.
“Xiao You, isn’t this hotel too expensive?” Mother Shen asked somewhat anxiously, having just seen downstairs that the room rate was over five hundred yuan.
“Yes, let’s change to one that costs two hundred.” Father Shen agreed.
“It’s fine. I booked it on my phone and had discount coupons.” Shen You said casually. “Rest well. I’ll head back now. Call me if you need anything.”
After returning, Shen You realized she hadn’t packed yet. Since today’s trip was decided on short notice, she grabbed two pieces of clothing randomly and packed them. She expected to just make a quick trip and return.
She still needed to rush back to open the shop.
The fire-washed cloth was packed in a locked box, as it was of utmost importance.
There was still time, so she continued working on restoring the phoenix crown for a while.
The [Great Qi] shop was open.
Just as she couldn’t resist ordering another milk tea, someone entered the shop.
It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet. Modern times were still brightly lit, but it was already quite late in Great Qi.
The visitor was Li Heng. He had come so late at night, it definitely had to be for some urgent matter.
But seeing him just standing at the entrance, Shen You put away the items on her workbench and looked at him with questioning eyes.